“Don’t thank me. I already told you that I’ll have your back no matter what! You my girl, and I would be a fool to pass up a chance to live in paradise, for free.” Nadia laughed. “I got Connie looking after the shop ’til I get back so it’s all good. Funny thing, I gave her some responsibility and she is a changed person, not holdin’ on to all that jealousy and cattiness.”
“That’s true, you are in paradise. And if having more responsibility and being in charge is all it took to change her nasty attitude, you shoulda done that sooner,” Ke’yoko said, laughing.
“Well, let me get out here wit’ these kids,” Nadia said and turned to walk away. She took a few steps then turned back around and looked at Ke’yoko.
“What?” Ke’yoko asked.
“I know you’ll never admit to it, and I’m not expectin’ you to, but deep down inside I know you had somethin’ to do wit’ that evidence comin’ up missin’ against Ka’yah, and I wanna say that was real gangsta and I got a lot of respect for you. You a better woman than I’ll ever be,” Nadia said.
“At the end of the day, you can pick your friends, but not your family,” Ke’yoko replied, never fully admitting to anything. Nadia didn’t need her to admit it; she knew her hipbone better than she knew herself.
Nadia smiled and continued out of the room.
Ke’yoko began sorting through the mail that Nadia had brought her. A huge smile crept across her face when she saw a letter from Ross. She quickly opened it up and began reading it.
What’s up, lady?
I know it’s been a while. I hope Turks and Caicos is treatin’ you right. There has been so much goin’ on since you’ve been gone. The shop is makin’ more money than a little bit. I still can’t thank you enough for givin’ me the business. You know I gotta repay you some way, even though you say I don’t. Harvey, Mitch, and Jonesy told me to tell you hi and to get their rooms ready. Guess what? Me and Sharae got back together. Yeah, I know, but I love her and she’s really changed. We’re plannin’ on gettin’ married in the fall and we’re expectin’ our second child. I’m finally gettin’ my son. I want to come out to see you and my godson once you get all the way settled in. I heard about what happened to Ja’Rel. I can’t believe Kassidy really packed up and moved back to North Carolina, leavin’ Ja’Rel to die all alone. Word on the street is he’s livin’ in a nursin’ home. I hate to say it, but karma misses no one. You might think she skipped over you when you do dirt and just when you least expect it, here she comes knockin’ back on your door like Rent-A-Center! Anyways, I just wanted to touch base with you and let you know what’s been goin’ on. I really miss seein’ your pretty face and, between me and you, I still wish you had never been wit’ Ja’Rel ’cause I would have loved to get between them thick-ass thighs of yours. I know what you’re thinkin’, but I ain’t married yet so I can still flirt wit’ you. I love you, Ke’yoko, and I can’t wait to see you. Be safe.
Love always,
Ross
Ke’yoko smiled from ear to ear as she neatly folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope. It was always a pleasure hearing from her old friend Ross. Hearing that he had gotten back with Sharae had Ke’yoko feeling kind of jealous, even though he had made it quite clear to her that they could never mess around on the strength of the relationship he and Ja’Rel used to have.
Ke’yoko placed her hand on her round belly and rubbed it. She couldn’t believe that in less than a week she was about to be somebody’s mommy. After all the miscarriages she was forced to have, this childbirth thing was really happening and the sad thing was Ja’Rel wouldn’t be around to experience it with her. She hated hearing the news about Ja’Rel, but Ross was absolutely right: karma was a bitch, one of the baddest! So in the end he’d gotten what fate felt he deserved.
Ke’yoko was afraid and happy all wrapped into one. If she didn’t know anything else, she knew that she would be the best parent she could be, and was going to give her baby and nephew the world.
“Well, baby boy, I guess it’s just me, you, Aiko, and Nadia handling business as usual,” she said to her unborn child before taking a seat and looking out at the beautiful view, smiling from ear to ear.
Urban Books, LLC
97 N18th Street
Wyandanch, NY 11798
Carl Weber’s Kingpins: Cleveland
Copyright © 2016 Brandi Johnson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior consent of the Publisher, except brief quotes used in reviews.
ISBN: 978-1-6228-6958-9
This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.
Distributed by Kensington Publishing Corp.
Submit orders to:
Customer Service
400 Hahn Road
Westminster, MD 21157-4627
Phone: 1-800-733-3000
Fax: 1-800-659-2436
Carl Weber's Kingpins Page 22
